Of all the scenarios State Rep. Rachel Talbot-Ross mentioned to Wiscasset selectmen Feb. 1 for how James Weldon Johnson might be honored in the town where he died, the “trees” one caught our ear.
The others, a plaque or marker, have been eyed and more recently been narrowed in on locally. But the trees thought, dropped with its single syllable into the conversation before the legislator continued a larger point, sounded perfect.
Yes, it is gruesome that Johnson’s death in a car-train crash here is why Wiscasset has at times been asked to honor the civil rights advocate. And some residents have based their opposition on that. But a tree or stand of trees, accessible to history buffs and others, is hard to argue with. Wiscasset has beautiful trees and lots of them. What’s one more, or a few more? More beauty and, in this instance, meaning.
To those who might say downtown is pretty packed with features and finding a spot that would be OK with the state, the railroad, businesses and anyone else would be a challenge: A. Challenges are OK. We learn and become stronger from them and sometimes we win; B. The tree or trees don’t have to go at or near the crash site. Anywhere along Route 1, even before Main Street or Railroad Avenue, would do. According to Maine State Archives records and last year’s event on Johnson at Wiscasset Community Center, he was not a new traveler to the Midcoast. Historical tourists will get that this is a path he took and, if they want to be where he died, they can always look downhill to the railroad crossing or go downtown for a nearer view.
The tree or trees would honor Johnson’s great life and, as trees are living things, represent his legacy the state and several Wiscasset officials and residents are trying to shine a light on.
Now for C. There had to be one, or there would have been an “and” before the “B” earlier, making “B” the final point on the location issue.
C. A tree or stand of trees that already exists could be dedicated in Johnson’s honor. I don’t know if the town or anyone has a roughly 84-year-old one handy anyplace people could walk to. But if there was one about that age, dating one side or the other of 1938 when the crash occurred, it would add to the poignancy, showing that Wiscasset is where the world lost Johnson around the time this tree was small; and the tree grew tall and now grows in his name. If a newer tree, that’s fine, too; it just doesn’t have to be brand new. That way, the only location issue might be which tree or trees to pick.
Would a tree on the Route 1 side of the town common be an option? Or, again, a stand of trees there, maybe – to signify the joint effort evident in Johnson’s life’s work with others in arts, diplomacy, or civil rights progress.
Week’s positive parting thought: From a second-generation Patriots fan, thank you, forever, Tom Brady, for the memories and the lasting pride.
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